"You can trust me," said Kate, a little softened. "Good morning."
She walked straight home, her heart all in a rebellious tumult. From the first she had never taken very kindly to Grace; but just now she felt as if she positively hated her.
"How dare she marry him!" she thought, the angry blood hot in her cheeks. "How dare she twine herself, with her quiet, Quakerish ways, into his heart! He is twice her age, and it is only to be mistress where she is servant now that she marries him. Oh, how could papa think of such a thing?"
She found Rose in the drawing-room when she arrived, listening to Eeny with wide-open eyes of wonder. The moment Kate entered, she sprang up, in a high state of excitement.
"Have you heard the news, Kate? Oh, goodness, gracious me! What is the world coming to! Papa is going to be married!"
"I know it," said Kate coldly.
"Who told you? Eeny's just been telling me, and Grace told her last night. It's to Grace! Did you ever! Just fancy calling Grace mamma!"
"I shall never call her anything of the sort."
"You don't like it, then? I told Eeny you wouldn't like it. What are you going to say to papa?"
"Nothing."